PLAYWRIGHT Mel Shepherd is on a mission...he wants to merge art with sport.

His dream is a four-day Summer Festival, bringing together theatre, rock music, brass bands, poetry and an arts workshop.

And it will be centred on Leigh Rugby League Club's Hilton Park.

Marking 25 years since the club's historic Wembley win of 1971, Mel will pay homage to past glories by re-launching his own sporting play.

'Harold Missed Wembley', a story in words and music set in Leigh in 1971, was premiered five years ago.

And Mel wants to play it again at the festival.

A preliminary meeting for theatre groups wishing to take part at the August event will be held on Saturday (1pm) at the Railway Hotel, Twist Lane, Leigh.

But some local residents are kicking up a fuss about the festival.

"The thoughts of thousands of people flocking to Hilton Park and round the clock rock music isn't very appealing," said one nearby Glebe Street resident.

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